The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-06-17
UP AT OLD BETHANY.
COMMENCEMENT YESTERDAY.

- AAA VIII LII 111lI 1
, COMMENCEMENT YESTERDAY
. Moro Than Usual Interest Felt for specla
Rcnaons-Prof. woolery Elected Presi.
don't and Accepts the Posltion-Exsr. 2
, cises of Commencement Week.
Yesterday was Commencement Day q
Bethany College. It's iorty.Bixth year wa
brought to close and another class sen
out from its classic walls to commence th,
roal battle in the great busy fields Of life
The class, though few In number, wa
like thoae that have preceded 1t ant
whose six hundred and odd members arc
: to be found in every State OF tho Union
prominent In all walks Of life, a company
of earnest, thoughtful minds, enriched by
the complete and thorough training ai
forded during four years' etay at Beth,
any. l545 ,,5
The class WAS composed OF Miss v. R.
shriver, Of Bethany, Mr.. Edwin Curry, Of
Ohio, MIR. Thomas A. Jones, OF Kentucky,
Mr.. Sumner T. Martin, OF Ohio, Mr..
Joseph Fenton Woolery, Of Kentucky.
and MIR, ]. Coleman Reid, Of Kentucky, :
AS usual, this week has been the week
Of all others in the year for the residente
OF that pretty little country hamlet, whose
name the college bears, and for thope
who live In the country surrounding,
This year there was much more than tho
usual excltement and interest that ALWAYS
attends Commencement week ut this In.
stitution. This was due to the threatened
loss Of Prof. W. II. Woolery, who since
the retirement OF Prof. W. K, PendIeton
from the active duties Of tho presidency.
three yaars ago, has been the acting
president. -
| PROF. wooLRRr.
A few days since the Board of Trustees
Of Hiram College, OF Ohio, elected Prof..
Woolery President Of that institution, a
position which he accepted at the time,
AS soon as this was learned and It was
realized whata loss, not only the College
but the community at large would sustain
by tho removal OF the man to whose earn.
est efforts is mainly due the fact that tho
college ia in existence to-day, there was
raised most vigorous and earnset pro-
test. Everyone became interested, and
the matter formed leading topic OF con-
versation everywhere. 4. 5 ~ 81
Professor Wooleiy Is a man who has no
enemies and one who, by his uniform
kindness and courtesy, has made himself
liked byail with whom he has ever como in
contact. 1t wss therefore natural that bis
intended removal should prove q matter
OF general interest and regret. During
the past two years Bethany College has
been passing through severe crisis, one
from which she has not yet fully recover.
ed, but which she now bids fair to epeedi.
ly do in view Of the action that has been
taken by: the Board OF Trustees and the
resllt it has brought about. With any
other man than Professor Woolery at its
head, the college would probably have
auccumbed to the aad and dieaa.
trous end that seemed to confront
it; but Professor Woolery, with
a courage born OF love for alma Mater and
q strong faith that the institution which
had contributed so much good to the
world during it's long and honorable
career was not destined to die. gorked mn.
ceasing!y, and gradually, but surely, be.
gan TO pull the college back once more to
the position it graced for go long a time,
VI course he was aided to certain extent
In this work, but he was the main motive
power. And 30 1t was, that to the feeling
OF regret so universally felt over his In.
tended departure, WAS added that of
alarm Tor the future of the college and
the country round about, which owes
part OF lta prosperity to the institution,
lie WILL STAY.
The Board OF Trustees met in animal
session on Tuesday. The situation Vas a
serious one, and the Board was unable to
accomplish anything. Wednesday it was
sgaln IN session, and the result was
awaited with intense interest. Still moth.
ing definite was arrived at, though uu-
lnerons conferences were had with PROBES.
Eor Woo!ery. Yesterday morning the
Board met again. It had been in session
but q short time when the announcement
was made that Professor Woolerv had
consented to accept the presidency
OF Bethany, and was at that time
presiding over the meeting (, of the
trustees, The nows spread rapidly and
was everywhere received with the most
marked demonstrations OF approval. Cit-
izens and students congratulated each
other and the gloomy despondeacv that
had prevailed for week past gave way to
spirit Of gladness. Almost inetanflv a
new. interest was felt in old Bethany in
other words, q boom was started, TINE,
1t is as yet only a local boom, but with the
changes that have been made and with an
adherence to the course that has been
mapped out, the boom has every prosnsct
Of spreading till it shall have mada Of
bethany CoIege the institution contem-
plated by it's revered founder, ::5,.71l
1t matters little how this much desired
result was brought about. Suffice It to
say that Prot. Woolery is satisfied that in
following out the work to which he has
devoted his life he can do more good and
be OF more use to the world in general, at
the head Of Bethany College, for whose
young men there is always demand
greater than the supply, than he can be
elsewhere, and that it gives the utmost
satisfaction. 7.5.E:y ID $ -
81. COMMENCEMENT YESTERDAY,
There IVES very marked difference be.
tween Commencement at Bethany yestsr.
day and what 1t was one year ago. Then
every one was filled with gloomy forebod.
ings; yesterday oil were enthusiastic over
the prospects,. A year ago the day was a
dreary, rainy one, well in keeping with
tho pervading spirit, juut as the glorious
weather OF yesterday was in keeping with
the feeling that was everywhere manifest.
The sparkling sunshine and clear exhiler-
ating atmosphere that prevailed on the
grand old Brooke county hills, added to
the soft, sweet smiles Of Natures counten-
ance, together with the good news that
had been circulated, inspired ali
hearts with those joyous feelings.
confidence and good spirits which 20 40
far towards tho successful achievement of
the long,and hopefully looked for, ,triumphs
Of tho occa9ion: Yesterday was more
like one Of the famous old time Bethany
Commencement Days than hn q haan Lnnm.